And Mary said to the angel, How may this be, because I have had no knowledge of a man?

MESSAGE

Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."

NKJV

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

PHILIPS

Then Mary spoke to the angel, "How can this be," she said, "I am not married!"

RWEBSTR

Then said Mary to the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

GWV

Mary asked the angel, "How can this be? I've never had sexual intercourse."

NET

Mary* said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with* a man?”

NET

1:34 Mary110

tnGrk “And Mary.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

said to the angel, “How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with111

tnGrk “have not known.” The expression in the Greek text is a euphemism for sexual relations. Mary seems to have sensed that the declaration had an element of immediacy to it that excluded Joseph. Many modern translations render this phrase “since I am a virgin,” but the Greek word for virgin is not used in the text, and the euphemistic expression is really more explicit, referring specifically to sexual relations.